Thin-profile cross-flow fan with air volume gain effect

ABSTRACT

A thin-profile cross-flow fan with air volume gain effect has a thin-profile casing, a cross-flow guide passage, a blade assembly, an auxiliary guide ring portion, an axial magnetic motor and a radial flow-through auxiliary guide portion. When the thin-profile cross-flow fan is operated, the air stream guided from the air inlet can be guided to the air outlet through the circulation space or the auxiliary guide ring portion and radial flow-through the auxiliary guide portion, thus increasing the an flux and volume of the thin-profile cross-flow fan and also improving greatly its gain effect and performance with better applicability and industrial benefits.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a cross-flow fan, and more particularly to an innovative one which is designed into a thin-profile one with air volume gain effect.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.

The “cross-flow fan” referred hereto is also called a centrifugal fan. Its difference with the axial-flow fan lies in that, the air stream of axial-flow fan is guided axially along the axle center of the fan motor, and that of the cross-flow fan is guided radially along the axle center of the fan motor. A large-sized cross-flow fan is often represented by an air blower. As for the structural design of large-sized or small-sized cross-flow fan, the motor parts are generally assembled externally on the casing, and only fan blade assembly is accommodated in the casing.

Coupling with the development trend of computer and electronic products towards thin-profile design, a cross-flow fan structure with appropriate air flow path must be adopted since an axial-flow fan cannot be adapted to such thin-profile heat radiating space. Yet, such common cross-flow fan structure also encounters few bottlenecks and challenges with growing demands on the thin-profile products. Specifically, the motor must be shifted into the fan casing for a thinner cross-flow fan. In such a case, the cross-flow fan casing is only about 4 mm high. But after the motor is shifted into the fan casing, the external diameter of the central hub of the fan blade assembly will be increased and the sectional area of internal annular flow space will be reduced. Besides, a bigger problem lies in that, the built-in motor of common cross-flow fan is generally of a radial magnetic flux pattern, whereby the magnetic ring of the rotor is set radially (or laterally) at a spacing with the periphery of the stator coil. So, the lateral space within the rotor hub area of the motor is blocked by the components such as magnetic ring and coil, leading to lack of air flow space. Hence, the maximum air flux of common cross-flow fan can only be realized by the limited annular guide space between the fan casing and rotor hub of the motor, and up to now, there still lacks of a solution for efficiently increasing the air flux without changing the volume and specification of fan casing.

Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement if the art to provide an improved, structure that can significantly improve the efficacy.

Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based on the structural design and technical characteristics of the present invention wherein the “thin-profile cross-flow fan with air volume gain effect” mainly comprises a thin-profile casing, cross-flow guide passage, blade assembly, auxiliary guide ring portion, axial magnetic motor and radial flow-through auxiliary guide portion, when the thin-profile cross-flow fan is operated, the air stream guided from the air inlet can be guided to the air outlet through the circulation space or the auxiliary guide ring portion and radial flow-through auxiliary guide portion, thus increasing the air flux and volume of the thin-profile cross-flow fan and also improving, greatly its gain effect and performance with better applicability and industrial benefits.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blade assembly of the present invention viewed from another angle.

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the assembly state of the blade assembly and axial magnetic motor.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the flow passage status of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the flow passage status of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an application view of the present invention wherein an auxiliary air inlet is set onto the lateral surface of the thin-profile casing adjacent to the air inlet.

FIG. 8 is an application view of the present invention wherein an extended retaining wall is formed at one side of the tongue portion.

FIG. 9 is an application view of the present invention wherein the thin-profile cross-flow fan is of a split pattern.

FIG. 10 is an application view of the present invention wherein an auxiliary suction inlet is set onto the lateral surface of the thin-profile casing adjacent to the air outlet.

FIG. 11 is an application view of the present invention wherein a chamfered portion is formed on the lateral surface of the thin-profile casing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-4 depict preferred embodiments of the thin-profile cross-flow fan of the present invention with air volume gain effect, which, however, are provided for only explanatory objective. Said thin-profile cross-flow fan A has a thin-profile casing 10, made of a hollow casing comprising two end surfaces 11 and a few lateral surfaces 12, and the height between these two end surfaces 11 (marked by H in FIG. 3) is 2.5 mm-10 mm.

Across-flow guide passage 13 is formed in the hollow thin-profile casing 10. Said cross-flow guide passage 13 comprises a circulation space 14 as well as an air inlet 15 and an air outlet 16 at opposite sides of the lateral surface of the thin-profile casing 10.

A blade assembly 20 is set into the circulation space 14 of the cross-flow guide passage 13 in a rotatable state. Said blade assembly 20 comprises a housing hub 22 with an axle center 21 protruded centrally, a mating portion 23 and multiple blades 24 arranged annularly at interval and incorporated onto the circumferential wall 221 of the hub 22.

An auxiliary guide ring portion 30 is set into a reducing annular guide space by the circumferential wall 221 of the hub 22 and the mating portion 23 of blades 24.

An axial magnetic motor 40 is set at inner side of an end surface of the thin-profile casing 10 correspondingly to the huh 22 of the blade assembly 20, and used to drive the rotation of the blade assembly 20. Said axial magnetic motor 40 comprises a magnetic disc. 41 located at top wall of the hub 22, and a stator 42 assembled at inner side of the end surface 11 of the thin-profile casing 10. Said stator 42 comprises a baseplate 43, an axle bed $4 protruded on the baseplate 43 and as coil assembly 45 set on the baseplate 43. Of which, said axle bed 44 is used for insertion of the axle center 21 of the blade assembly 20. Further, there is an axial spacing between the coil assembly 45 and magnetic disc 41 (shown in FIGS. 3, 6).

A radial flow-through auxiliary guide portion 47 is formed into a radial guide space by the axial spacing 46 between the coil assembly 45 and magnetic disc 41.

A tongue portion 48 is protruded laterally at one side of the air outlet 16.

An inward flange 49 is extended from the tongue portion 48 towards the air inlet 15 curvedly.

Of which, the periphery of said radial flow-through auxiliary guide portion 47 is connected with the auxiliary guide ring portion 30 and circulation space 14 to form a flow-through space by overriding the bottom of the circumferential wall 221 of the hub 22 (shown in FIG. 6).

Based on above-specified structural design, the thin-profile cross-flow fan A is operated in a way that, as shown in FIG. 5, air stream (indicated by arrow L1) guided from air inlet 15 could be guided to air outlet 16 through the circulation space 14 or the auxiliary guide ring portion 30 and radial flow-through auxiliary guide portion 47 (shown in FIG. 6) (in conjunction with arrow L2 in FIGS. 5, 6), thus increasing the air flux and volume of the thin-profile cross-flow fan A.

Referring to FIG. 5, the width of the air outlet 16 of the cross-flow guide passage 13 (indicated by W1) is ¼?½ of the air inlet 15 (indicated by W2).

Of which, the air inlet 15 and air outlet 16 of the cross-flow guide passage 13 are arranged at an angle of 90 degree (shown in FIG. 5) or 180 degree (figure omitted hereto) from each other.

Of which, the curvature of the inward flange 49 must be consistent with the peripheral curvature of the blade 24 of the blade assembly 20 (shown in FIG. 5).

Referring to FIG. 7, an auxiliary air inlet 50 is set Onto the lateral surface 12 of the thin-profile casing 10 adjacent to the air inlet 15, helping to absorb air laterally (indicated by arrow L3 for an increased air flux.

Referring to FIG. 8, one side of the tongue portion 48 is obliquely extended towards the interior of air outlet 16 to form an extended retaining wall 60; the extended retaining wall 60 and the peripheral, flange of the blade 24 of the blade assembly 20 are configured at interval, while the extended retaining wall 60 is of an arced pattern that's mated with the peripheral curvature of the blade 24 of the blade assembly 20. Moreover, one end of the inward flange 49 is smoothly linked with the extended retaining wall 60.

Referring to FIG. 9, said thin-profile Cross-flow fan is of a split patient formed by symmetrical connection of two identical thin-profile casings 10. Said thin-profile casing 10 is provided with said cross-flow guide passage, blade assembly 20, auxiliary guide ring portion 30, axial magnetic motor 40, radial flow-through auxiliary guide portion 47 and inward flange 49. Besides, these two thin-profile casings 10 are abutted by the air outlet 16 and connected by a connecting portion 17. Hence, the air outlet 16 of these t thin-profile casings 10 enables mutual pulling for better air volume gain effect.

Referring to FIG. 10, an auxiliary suction inlet 70 is additionally set onto the lateral surface 12 of the thin-profile casing 10 adjacent to the air outlet 16, helping to absorb air laterally (indicated by arrow L4) for an increased air flux.

Referring to FIG. 11, a chamfered portion 80 is formed at the corner area on the lateral surface 12 of the thin-profile casing 10 between the air inlet 15 and air outlet 16; the chamfered portion 80 is designed to be mated with the corner area of the computer (e.g.: notebook). 

1. A thin-profile cross-flow fan with air volume gain effect comprising: a thin-profile casing, made of a hollow casing comprising two end surfaces and a few lateral surfaces, and the height between these two end surfaces is 2.5 mm-10 mm; a cross-flow guide passage, formed in the hollow thin-profile casing; said cross-flow guide passage comprising a circulation space as well as an air inlet and an air outlet at opposite sides of the lateral surface of the thin-profile casing; a blade assembly, set into the circulation space of the cross-flow guide passage in a rotatable state; said blade assembly comprising a housing hub with an axle center protruded centrally, a mating portion and multiple blades arranged annularly at interval and incorporated onto the circumferential wall of the hub; an auxiliary guide ring portion, set into a reducing annular guide space by the circumferential wall of the hub and the mating portion of blades; an axial magnetic motor, set at inner side of an end surface of the thin-profile casing correspondingly to the hub of the blade assembly, and used to drive the rotation of the blade assembly; said axial magnetic motor comprising a magnetic disc located at top wall of the hub, and a stator assembled at inner side of the end surface of the thin-profile casing; said stator comprising a baseplate, an axle bed protruded on the baseplate and a coil assembly set on the baseplate; of which, said axle bed is used for insertion of the axle center of the blade assembly; and there is an axial spacing between the coil assembly and magnetic disc; a radial flow-through auxiliary guide portion, formed into a radial guide space by the axial spacing between the coil assembly and magnetic disc; a tongue portion, protruded laterally at one side of the air outlet; an inward flange, extended from the tongue portion towards the air inlet curvedly; of which, the periphery of said radial flow-through auxiliary guide portion is connected with the auxiliary guide ring portion and circulation space to form a flow-through space by overriding the bottom of the circumferential wall of the hub; when the thin-profile cross-flow fan is operated, air stream guided from air inlet could be guided to air outlet through the circulation space or the auxiliary guide ring portion and radial flow-through auxiliary guide portion, thus increasing the air flux and volume of the thin-profile cross-flow fan.
 2. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein the width of said air outlet of the cross-flow guide passage is ¼-½ of said air inlet.
 3. The structure defined in claim 2, wherein said air inlet and air outlet of the cross-flow guide passage are arranged at an angle of 90 degree or 180 degree from each other.
 4. The structure defined in claim 3, wherein the curvature of the inward flange must be consistent with the peripheral curvature of the blade of the blade assembly.
 5. The structure defined in claim 4, wherein an auxiliary air inlet is set onto the lateral surface of the thin-profile casing adjacent to the air inlet, helping to absorb air laterally for an increased air flux.
 6. The structure defined in claim 5, wherein one side of the tongue portion is obliquely extended towards the interior of air outlet to form an extended retaining wall; the extended retaining wall and the peripheral flange of the blade of the blade assembly are configured at interval, while the extended retaining wall is of an arced pattern that's mated with the peripheral curvature of the blade of the blade assembly; moreover, one end of the inward flange is smoothly linked with the extended retaining wall.
 7. The structure defined in claim 6, wherein said thin-profile cross-flow fan is of a split pattern formed by symmetrical connection of two identical thin-profile casings; said thin-profile casing is provided with said cross-flow guide passage, blade assembly, auxiliary guide ring portion, axial magnetic motor, radial flow-through auxiliary guide portion and inward flange; besides, these two thin-profile casings are abutted by the air outlet and connected by a connecting portion; hence, the air outlet of these two thin-profile casings enables mutual pulling for better air volume gain effect.
 8. The structure defined in claim 6, wherein an auxiliary suction inlet is additionally set onto the lateral surface of the thin-profile casing adjacent to the air outlet, helping to absorb air laterally for an increased air flux.
 9. The structure defined in claim 8, wherein a chamfered portion is formed at the corner area on the lateral surface of the thin-profile casing between the air inlet and air outlet. 